With the amendments to the Energy Act adopted on 30 September 2022 (urgent measures for the short-term provision of a secure electricity supply in winter, solar offensive), the Swiss Parliament facilitates the approval of large-scale photovoltaic plants and establishes a subsidy for these with a non-recurrent remuneration of up to 60% of the investment costs. These facilitations apply until these new large-scale photovoltaic plants permit a total annual production of a maximum of 2 TWh throughout Switzerland. The amendments to the Energy Act are limited until 2025.
The plants must achieve a minimum annual production of 10 GWh and a specific production in the winter half-year (1 October - 31 March) of 500 kWh per 1 kW of installed capacity.
If these requirements are met, the non-recurrent remuneration is set at the level of the uncovered costs, but it amounts to a maximum of 60% of the eligible investment costs. In order to benefit from the subsidy, the plant must be fully operational within five years of the final approval for its construction becoming legally binding. Projects that do not meet this criterion are eligible for the standard one-off payment for photovoltaic plants.
The application for a non-recurrent remuneration in accordance with Art. 71a can be submitted to the SFOE as soon as a legally binding construction permit has been issued for the project.
